Windmill



D. R. SCHOLES.

WINDMILL. APPLICATION r1110 11111.7,1921.

Patnted Nov; 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

u. R. SCHOLES.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION F |LED MAR; 7, 1921.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

D. R. SCHOLES.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, I921.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL R. SCHOLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AERMOTOR COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS WINDMILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed March 7, 1921'. Serial No. 450,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL R. SoHoLns, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Windmills, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to windmills and has a number of objects and advantages in View. A well known form of windmill is provided with two pinions upon the horizontal wind wheel shaft and two gears in mesh with these pinions. A casing, constituting the mill head, is mounted upon an upright tubu lar column to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation and incloses these pinions and gear wheels and has a body portion upon which the wind wheel shaft and the gear wheels. are journa-led, it being usual to place lubricant in this body portion of the casing .to lubricate working parts of the mill. The casing also has a cover portion, preferably made of two parts, that is provided for the purpose of making the casing complete to prevent access to the interior thereof of foreign element-s. The windmill is commonly supplied with a tail or vane for placing the wind wheel in and out of the wind, there being mechanism, operable from below, for opening and closing the vane respectively to place the wheel in or out of the wind. The operating rod or other connection that extends from this mechanism to a lower point of the mill whereby such mechanism may be operated from below is preferably extended through the upright tubular column upon which the aforesaid casing is mounted to turn. It is not necessary that the tail or ane adjusting mechanism be guarded against the elements but in order that its operating connection, such as a rod, may pass through the same tubular column through which the load shaft passes, it was hitherto necessary to connect such operating rod with the vane adjusting mechanism through the casing for the gearing, requiring complication in the construction of the mill and undesirable openings in the gear casing.

I overcome these objections by so constructing and arranging the casing that. the vane operating rod may pass through the tubular column of the mill and yet essentially remain upon the exterior of the casing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a wall portion of the casing has a hole formed therethrough through which said operating rod passes to be surrounded by such wall portion, the part of the casing wall that has the hole formed therein being shaped in the form of a-nozzle that discharges into the tubular column to direct rain and snow into the tubular column through which it escapes, this nozzle serving to prevent the water and snow from passing sidewise into the casing.

The invention has for another of its objects the provision of an improved form of vane adjusting mechanism that includes an operating lever whose fulcrum is supported upon the gear casing in a manner to shift as the vane adjusting mechanism is operated.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the brake mechanism is operated by the vane adjusting mechanism after the vane has been closed.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a side View, partially in section, of the upper portion of a wind mill made in accordance with my invention, the closed position of the vane being indicated by dot and dash lines; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1; F ig, 3 is a plan view, partially in section, indicating the vane in open position in full lines and in closed position in dot and dash lines; Fig. 4 i a detail view somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating some of the vane ad justing mechanism; Fig. 5 is a view of the upper portion of the mill in elevation, taken in adiiferent direction from that in which Fig. lis taken; and Fig. 6 is a View in sectional elevation of a part of the windmill mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar charactors of reference throughout the different figures.

The wind wheel 1 is only partially indicated, its construction and mounting being well understood by those skilled in the art. Ithas a horizontal shaft 2 fixed with respect thereto and upon which are provided two spaced apart pinions 3 that are in mesh with gear wheels 4. The casing 5 inoloses the gearing 3, 4, this casing being formed with an upright open ended sleeve portion 6 which is located between the axes of the pinions and gear wheels. This sleeve surrounds an upright tubular column 7 formed with a step bearing 8.upon which the lower end of the sleeve 6 is supported to turn, the portion of the tubular column 7 whlch is surrounded by the sleeve 6 constituting a bearing for this sleeve to make it co-axial with the tubular column. The lower portion of this casing 5 is preferably employed asa basin for containing lubricating oil, this basin being closed by a cover which is made up of two assembled parts 9 and 10. An upright load shaft 11 passes through the tubular column into the cover portion of the casing where it has power connection with the gear wheels, this power connection being established with such gear wheels through the medium of pitmen 12 which serve to translate the rotary motion of the gear wheels into reciprocating'movement of the load shaft. The wall portion 9 of the casing preferably has at least the bottom part of its upper portion 9 located in alinement with the bore of the upright tubular column 7 and desirablydips into the bore of this afford a space through which the vane adjusting rod or connection 13 may pass from the bore of the tubular column into connection with the lever 14 that enters into the preferred form of vane adjusting mechanism. VVherethe pinions are located 'lat-.

' gearing and to permit the operating rod 13 to pass through the tubular column without entering the gear space of the casing, is sloped and deflected to have a portion there of overlie the bore of the tubular column and in which overlying wall portion an opening 15 is formed through which the rod 13 passes, this hole being alined with the bore of the column. Part of the wall 9 having the opening 15 is preferably shaped to form a nozzle 16 that dips into the bore of the tubular column and serves to' direct rain or snow into the tubular column and to prevent the passage thereof into the gear inclosing space of the casing.

The form of vane adjusting mechanism illustrated includes the aforesaid lever 14 which is fulcrumed at an intermediate point upon an arm 17 which is pivotally mounted at 18 upon the gear casing. The upper end of the lever 17 carries a roller 19 which bears against the casing wall portion 9 whereby said arm is forced downwardly as the rod 13 is pulled downwardly by and through the intermediation of any suitable mechanism well known to those skilled in the art, spring mechanism, hereinafter to be described, serving to restore the lever to its normal position when the rod 13 is released, this spring mechanism serving to maintain the roller 19 in engagement with the casing wall portion 9 as the lever 14 is swung upon its shifting fulcrum The vane adjusting rod 13 is desirably connected with a lever extension 14' which is above the roller 19. A link 20 connects the lower end of the lever 14 with the lower end of an arm 21 which is pivoted at 22 upon the body portion of the gear casing 5 to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation, the counter-clockwise movement of this arm being limited by the engagement of the outer end thereof with the gear casing. Another arm 23 is also pivoted upon the gear casing at 22, this arm being formed with an abutment 24 to engage the vane when in open position. A coiled spring 25 V is interposed between the arms to maintain them apart and to establish engagement between the arm 23 and a pin 26 upon a rod 27 In addition to performing other functions to be set forth hereinafter, the spring 25 serves'as a spring abutment to cushion the vane when being placed in open or unfolded position to bring the wheel into the wind, this position of the vane being indicated in full lines in various figures of the drawings. A. spring 28 is connected at one end with the gear casing and at the other end with the windmill vane and-serves yieldingly to hold the vane angular to the wheel when this wheel is to be placed in the wind. When the vane is to be closed or folded, the rod 13 is pulled upon to lower the lever 14 and to draw the link 20 outwardly. In the outward movement of this link the sp-ringf25 is pressed upon by the portion of thearm 21 that loosely surrounds the rod. 27 but is prevented from being thrust from the end of this rod which is adjacent the gear casing by means of a retaining nut 29 upon the rod 27. Pressure thus imparted by means 27 through the intermediation of the link 20,

the arm 21 and the spring 25-causes closing movement of the vane against the force of the vane opening spring 28.

lVhen the vane has been brought to the position shown by dot and dash lines in several of the figures of the drawings, the wheel is placed out of the wind and in order that the wheel may not be idly turned its shaft 2 desirably carries a brake wheel or drum 30 which'is surrounded by a self-releasing brake band 31. The rod 13 may be further drawn down after it has served to place the vane in a closed position and in this continued movement of said rod the lever 14 is further lowered without effecting further closing movement of the vane which has been brought to rest against the gear casing. In this further movement of the lever the arm 17 is itself moved farther, this additional movement of this arm being employed to effect the application of the brake.

Vceivable within the hook shaped free end of the brake band when the actuating rod 13 has been pulled down to a suflicient extent, the arm 32 in its counter-clockwise movement engaging the free end of the brake band and applying it to the brake wheel. The brake applying force is transmitted from the rod 13 through the lever 14:, the rigidly connected arms 17 and 32, to the brake band, the continued movement of the parts 13, 14, 17 and 32 being permitted by the spring 25 whose compression is merely increased to permit the application of the brake and to enable the spring to continue to hold the vane in closed position while the brake is being applied.

Then the vane is to be unfolded the rod or connection 13 is released, whereupon the vane opening spring 28 will function.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following V 1. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel having a substantially horizontal shaft; of a pinion upon said shaft; a gear wheel in mesh with said pinion; a casing inclosing said gearing and comprising an upper or cover portion and a lower or body portion closed by said cover portion and on which body portion said shaft, pinion, and gear wheel are rotatively supported, this body portion of the casing having an upright open ended sleeve portion located between the axes of said pinion and gear wheel; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve portion of the casing to enable the casing and the parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the cover portion of the casing where it has power connection with the gear wheel; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating connection extending through the tubular column and which connection is upon the exterior of the casing above said column.

2. In a windmill, the combination with a Wind wheel having a substantially horizontal shaft; of a pinion upon said shaft; a gear wheel in mesh with said pinion; a casing inclosing said gearing and comprising an upper or cover portion and a lower or body portion closed by said cover portion and on which bodyportion said shaft, pinion and gear wheel are rotatively supported, this body portion of the casing having an upright open ended sleeve portion located between the axes of said pinion and gear wheel; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve portion of the casing to enable the casing and the parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the cover por tion of the casing where it has power connection with the gear wheel; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an Operating connection extending through the tubular column, a wall portion of the casing cover having a hole, alined with the bore of said column, formed therethrough through which said connection passes to be surrounded by such cover wall portion.

3. Ina wind mill, the combination with a wind wheel having a substantially horizontal shaft; of a pinion upon said shaft; a gear wheel in mesh with said pinion; a cas ing inclosing said gearing and comprising an upper or cover portion and a lower or body portion closed by said cover portion and on which body portion said shaft, pinion and gear wheel are rotatively supported, this body portion of the casing having an upright open ended sleeve portion located between the axes of said pinion and gear wheel; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve portion of the casing to enable the casing and the parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the cover portion of the casing where it has power connection with the gear wheel; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating connection extending through the tubular column, a wall portion of the casing cover having a hole, alined with the bore of said column, formed therethrough through which said connection passes to be surrounded by said cover wall por ion, the part of said cover wall portion having the hole formed therein being shaped in the form of a nozzle discharging into the tubular column.

4. In a wind mill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a gearing driven thereby; a

casing supporting said wind wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright open ended sleeve; an upright tubular col umn surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a sul stantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the casing where it haspower connection with the aforesaid gearing; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating connection, extending through the tubular column and which connection is upon the exterior of the casing above said column.

5. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of gearing driven thereby; a casing supporting said wind wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright open ended sleeve; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a hearing for, said sleeve to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the casing where it has power connection with the aforesaid gearing; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating connection extending through the tubular column, a wall portion of the casing having a hole, alined with the bore of said column, formed therethrough through which said connection passes to be surrounded by such wall portion.

6. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of gearing driven thereby; a

casing supporting said wind wheel and sup porting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an up right open ended sleeve; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a.

bearing for said sleeve to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the casing where it has "power connection with the aforesaid gearing; and mechamsm upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating connection extending through the tubular column, a wall portion of the casing having a hole, alined with the bore of said column, formed therethrough through which said connection passes to be surrounded by such wall portion, the part of said wall portion having the hole formed therein being shaped in the form of a nozzle discharging into the tubular column.

of rotation; and means for placing the wheel in and out of the wind, this means being inclusive of a lever, an arm pivoted upon said wheel supporting head andto the outer end of which an intermediate portion of said lever is pivoted, a connection extending downwardly from said'lever whereby the lever may be operated, and another connec tion between the remaining end of the lever and the wheel structure. 7

9. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; means for placing the wheel in and out of thewind, this means being inclusive of a lever, an arm-pivoted upon said wheel supporting head and to the outer end of which an intermediate portion of said lever is pivoted, a connection extending downwardly from one end of said lever whereby the lever may be operated, and another connection between the remaining end of the lever and a wind actuated portion of the windmill; and braking mechanism'comprising a brake wheel driven by the wind vheel and a brake band engageable with the rim of this wheel and applicable thereto by the aforesaid arm. V.

10. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head forsaid wheel mounted to turn in ahorizontal plane ofv rotation; means for placing the wheel in and out of the wind, this means being inclusive of a lever, an arm pivoted upon'said wheel supporting head'and. to. the outer end of which an intermediate portion of said lever is pivoted, a connection extending downwardly from one end of said lever whereby the lever may be operated, and another conneotion betweenthe remaining end of the lever and a wind actuated portion of the windmill; and a brake engaging a wheel driven portion and operable by said arm.

11. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; a lever whose fulcrum is carried by and is shiftable upon said head, and which lever is connected with said vane to swing it upon the head; and a connection extendlng from the lever whereby it may be operated to swing the vane.

12. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supportinghead for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; an arm pivoted upon said head; a lever pivoted upon the outer end of said armat an intermediate portion of said lever; a connection joined with one end of said lever for operating it; and a connection between the other end of said lever and said vane whereby movement of the lever will control the movement of the vane.

13. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; an arm pivoted upon said head; a lever pivoted upon the outer end of said arm at an intermediate portion of said lever; a connection joined with one end of said lever for operating it; a connection between the other end of said lever and said vane whereby movement of the lever will control the movement of the vane; and a brake engaging a wheel driven portion and operable by said arm.

14. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of thewind; an arm pivoted upon said head; a lever pivoted upon the outer end of said arm at an intermediate portion of said lever; a connection joined with one end of said lever for operating it; a connection between the other end of said lever and said vane whereby movement of the lever will control the movement of the vane; and braking mechanism comprising a brake wheel driven by the wind wheel and a brake band engageable with the rim of this wheel and applicable thereto by the aforesaid arm.

15. In a windmill, the combination with a' wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; mechanism in actuating relation to said vane for turning it to place the wheel out of the wind and including a spring through which the vane actuating force is transmitted; and a brake for engaging a wheel driven portion and operable by the mill vane actuating mechanism after this mechanism has shifted the vane to place the wheel out of the wind.

16. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; two arms pivoted upon the head, one of these arms being in engagement with the structure of the vane to effect closing movement of the vane to place the wheel out of the wind; mechanism connected with the other arm and operable when the vane is to be closed to place the wheel out of the wind; and a spring between and engaging both arms.

17. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a supporting head for said wheel mounted to turn in a horizontal plane of rotation; a vane pivotally mounted upon the wheel supporting head for placing the wheel in and out of the wind; two arms pivoted upon the head, one of these arms being in engagement with the structure of the vane to effect closing movement of the vane to place the wheel out of the wind; mechanism connected with the other arm and 0p erablewhen the vane is to be closed to place the wheel out of thewind; a spring between and engaging both arms; and a brake engageable with a wheel driven portion of the windmill and operable by the vane closing mechanism after the vane has been closed to place the wheel out of the wind.

18. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of gearing driven thereby; a casing supporting said wind wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright open ended sleeve; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; an upright load shaft passing through the tubular column and into the casing where it has power connection with the aforesaid gearing; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said wheel in and out of the wind and having an operating con nection extending through the tubular column, and upon the exterior side of a wall portion of said casing, this wall portion having a lower part above and alined with the bore of the column.

19. In a windmill, the combination with a wind wheel; of a load operating gearing driven thereby; acasing supporting said wind wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright open ended sleeve; an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve, to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation; and mechanism upon the exterior of the casing for placing said Wheel in and out of theWind and having an operating connection extending through the tubular column and upon the exterior side of a Wall portion of said casing, this wall portion being positioned to direct foreign matter into the bore of the column.

20. In a Windmill, the combination with a wind Wheel; of a load operating gearing driven thereby; a casing supporting said Wind Wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright open ended sleeve; and, an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve, to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation, said casing having a Wall portion Whose lowerpartis above and alined With the bore of the column.

21. In a Windmill, the combination With a Wind Wheel; of a load operating gearing driven thereby; a casing supporting said Wind Wheel and supporting and inclosing said gearing, said casing including in its formation an upright 'open ended sleeve; and an upright tubular column surrounded by and constituting a bearing for said sleeve, to enable the casing and parts carried thereby to turn in a substantially horizontal plane of rotation, said casing having a Wall portion positioned to direct foreign matter into the bore of the column.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1921.

V DANIEL R. SCHOLESV. 

